The Romanian's retrieving skills put Bouchard under pressure immediately, but after losing the opening game on serve, the Canadian's positive approach enabled her break straight back, a fizzed forehand winner making it 1-1.

Both players appeared to be nervy, but they produced a contender for rally of the tournament in the third game, the favourite ending it with a rasping forehand and going on to claim a second break.

Another vicious forehand put a prowling Halep a double-break up at 4-1 and although Bouchard hung in there and broke for a second time in the next game, she was a set down after blasting a bold attempted winner long.

There was a sense of deja vu when the first two games of the second set went against serve, but Halep's athleticism and accuracy combined with a string of Bouchard errors ensured it was plain sailing for last year's French Open runner-up.

Bouchard did manage her only hold to leave it 2-1, but Halep won the next five games to seal an emphatic victory in only 65 minutes.